As with all medical questions: check with your doctor, be skeptical
about information on the web, and use more than common sense. The
summary of options I found briefly searching are: stop using Lasix
and switch to some other medication or use the appropriate sunscreen
(for UV-A) that doesn't also cause a sensitivity (mainly older type
sunscreens).
Only short excerpts are posted here, so I would recommend reading each
of the references.
Drug-induced Photosensitivity
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~smb4v/pedpharm/v4n6.htm
Drug-Induced Photosensitivity
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic108.htm
The diuretic, Furosemide (Lasix), produces a phototoxic reaction.
"The result is an inflammatory response that has the clinical
appearance of an exaggerated sunburn reaction."
"Pseudoporphyria may occur with some medications"
"Sunscreens; fragrances; and, occasionally, antibacterial soaps may
cause photoallergic reactions when applied to the skin."
"Establishing whether the photosensitivity can be elicited with
exposure to sunlight through window glass may provide information
about the wavelengths of light that cause the response. UV-B light
does not penetrate window glass, whereas UV-A light and visible light
do."
"If sunscreens are not the cause of the photosensitivity, they should
be used liberally"
Pictures shown of the symptoms.
Pseudoporphyria
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic358.htm
"Pseudoporphyria is clinically characterized by increased skin
fragility; erythema; and the appearance of tense bullae and erosions
on sun-exposed skin, which are identical to those seen in patients
with PCT."
Drug-induced cutaneous photosensitivity: incidence, mechanism,
prevention and management.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12020173&dopt=Abstract
"Adverse photosensitivity responses to drugs occur predominantly as a
phototoxic reaction which is more immediate than photoallergy, and can
be reversed by withdrawal or substitution of the drug."
"Photocontact dermatitis due to topically applied agents interacting
with sunlight has been reported for some sunscreen and cosmetic
ingredients, as well as local anaesthetic and anti-acne agents.
Prevention of photosensitivity involves adequate protection from the
sun with clothing and sunscreens. In concert with the preponderance of
free radical mechanisms involving the photosensitising drugs, some
recent studies suggest that diet supplementation with antioxidants may
be beneficial in increasing the minimum erythemal UV radiation dose."
Lasix / Furosemide
http://www.nursespdr.com/members/database/ndrhtml/furosemide.html
http://www.pharmacynetworkgroup.com/lasix-side-effects.htm |
